The Tennessee Historical Commission has announced it is awarding more than $750,000 in grants for various historic preservation and archaeological projects across the state, including projects in Bradley, Coffee, Grundy and McMinn counties.
The grants, part of the Historic Preservation Fund, are awarded annually for projects that support the preservation of historic and archaeological resources.
"This program is one of the main ways in which our office helps protect historic places and contribute to the preservation of Tennessee's heritage," said Patrick McIntyre, Executive Director and State Historic Preservation Officer.
The federally funded matching grants provide 60% of project funds from the HPF and 40% of project funds come from the grantee. Grants are competitive and this year the Tennessee Historical Commission staff reviewed 51 applications with funding requests totaling approximately $1.6 million, significantly more than the amount of funding available.
This year's selection included archaeological surveys, design guidelines for historic districts, rehabilitation of historic buildings, posters highlighting the state's archaeology, and surveys of historic resources.
One of the grant priorities is for projects that are in Certified Local Governments), a program that allows communities to participate closely in the federal program of historic preservation. Seven CLG communities were awarded grants this year. Additional priorities include those that meet the goals and objectives of the office's plan for historic preservation. Properties that use the restoration grants must be listed in the National Register.
The counties where the projects are located, grant recipients, funding and descriptions are:
* Bradley County: First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, $28,152 to fund masonry restoration of the church
* Carter County: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, $5,550 to fund the continuation of paint analysis in the Carter Mansion.
* Cheatham County: Tennessee Division of Archaeology, $7,500 to fund an archaeological survey of a CCC Camp in Montgomery Bell State Park
* Claiborne County: Claiborne County Historical Society, $23,058 to fund the restoration of the old Claiborne County Jail; and Claiborne Economic and Community Development Board, $4,260.00 to fund a restoration plan for the Graham-Kivette House
* Coffee County: Tennessee Division of Archaeology; $9,300 to funs an archaeological survey of Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park
* Davidson County: Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art, $25,000 to fund the restoration of historic stone steps at the property; and Frist Art Museum, $25,000 to fund a restoration study of the windows on the U.S. Post Office.
* Green County: Town of Greeneville, $12,000 to fund a survey of part of downtown
* Grundy County: City of Coalmont, $9,000 to fund the restoration of the Coalmont Bank Building.
* Henry County: City of Paris, $6,840 to fund the restoration of Cavitt Place
* Lawrence County: City of Lawrenceburg, $38,366 to fund the restoration of the Crockett Theater
* Loudon County: Dunbar Rosenwald School Foundation, $40,350 to fund the exterior restoration of the Dunbar Rosenwald School
* McMinn County: City of Athens, $1,500 to fund the publication of brochures on the history National Register listed areas; and City of Etowah, $45,600 to fund the restoration of the L&N Depot windows
* Montgomery County: City of Clarksville, $15,000 to fund a survey of the downtown
* Perry County: Perry County, $3,360 to fund the restoration of the Cedar Grove Furnace
* Shelby County: City of Memphis, $7,200 for Shelby County Planning and Development division to send staff members to the National Alliance of Preservation Commission's FORUM; and Vollintine Evergreen Community Association, $7,500 to fund design guidelines for the National Register-listed districts that make up the Association.
* Sullivan County: City of Bristol, $18,000 to fund design guidelines for three National Register-listed districts; and Sullivan County/Blountville, $23,268 to fund the restoration of the National Register-listed Anderson Townhouse.
Multicounty Grants
* Middle Tennessee State University, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, $3,402 for posters for Tennessee Archaeology Week
* Middle Tennessee State University, Fullerton Laboratory for Spatial Technology, $50,000 to digitize data for historic / architectural survey files and for survey data entry for computerization of survey files
* East Tennessee Development District, $42,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position
* First Tennessee Development District, $30,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the First Tennessee Development District
* Greater Nashville Regional Council, $25,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Greater Nashville Regional Council
* Memphis Area Association of Governments, $25,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Memphis Area Association of Governments
* Northwest Tennessee Development District, $36,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Northwest Tennessee Development District
* South Central Tennessee Development District, $50,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the South Central Tennessee Development District
* Southeast Tennessee Development District, $54,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Southeast Tennessee Development District
* Southwest Tennessee Development District, $40,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Southwest Tennessee Development District
* Upper Cumberland Development District, $40,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Upper Cumberland Development District.
The next round of grants is expected to be opened in December with applications due in January 2020. Check www.tnhistoricalcommission.org for updates.